A METHOD OF DELIVERING A VEHICLE TO EARTH ORBIT AND RETURNING THE REUSABLE PORTION THEREOF TO EARTH

摘要

The present invention relates to a space shuttle system for delivering payload to earth orbit or other celestial orbit comprising a specially designed stage to be used with the orbiter and booster of the space shuttle. The booster can carry either the orbiter or the stage to a sub-orbital staging point. Both the orbiter and the stage are capable of proceeding from such a staging point to celestial orbit carrying a payload. The orbiter, having re-entry equipment, is capable of re-entering the earth's atmosphere and landing on earth. The orbiter has a re-entry environment protected bay in which its payload can be carried. The stage, being independent of re-entry equipment, has a large payload carrying compartment and a smaller, detachable subsystem carrying portion which can be received into and carried back to earth in the protected payload bay of the orbiter.